Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. (Psalm 122 KJV)

It was a troubling time in my life. It was the early 70's. We were home on vacation and I had decided to go to the house of worship that I had been baptized and confirmed in to pray. To my dismay the doors of this little country church were locked!  They hadn't been locked on previous visits. But, were now locked for fear of intruders and possible damage to the church when no one in authority was there to oversee the building.

I have served at a couple of congregations that locked the doors during hours even when someone was in the building; again, to my dismay. They insisted that the door stay locked even when I was in the building. The councils were afraid that whoever might be working in the church might be attacked. There were doorbells on these church doors so that whoever might be in the building might answer the door. I have not been able to surmise why these congregations thought that I or the secretary would not open the door to anyone ringing the bell. How can one tell through a closed door if the person on the other side is a terrorist or someone who is in serious need. I do not believe that any of the secretaries that I have served with would ever turn away someone in need.

Today, churches around the country have been closed because of an invisible enemy. Many will not even be able to go into the house of the Lord to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

Fear of what might happen is a dangerous thing. It is good to be cautious. But, caution and fear are not the same thing. For the time being the church on earth is restructuring what the house of the Lord is by turning to social media and live-streaming or taping and posting worship services. I cannot say that this is a bad thing. We will hear the Word of the Lord which is essential to living life in Christ. But, there will be something missing. That something will be the fellowship within the Body of Christ. That something will be communing with other believers. 

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb 10:24-25) 

For the sake of others; it is prudent for many congregations to go to social media even while we have to accept that many of our seniors as well as others may not have social media. They may not even have the internet. But, pastors cannot neglect the needs of others no matter who they are or where they are. During the Bubonic Plague, Martin Luther continued to serve the people in spite of risk to his own health and life. He would not leave Wittenburg in order to keep himself safe. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and those who served lepers with her put their own health and safety at risk. But, they did it because they were called to serve those in need. That need may require social distancing for a time to keep others safe. It may also require that we meet them face to face; hand to hand.

It saddens me to know that fear has closed church doors. Each decade manages to close the doors a little more than the decade before. Where will it all end?

An evangelical pastor was arrested in Florida this past week for unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules as he led worship for his large congregation in spite of government guidelines against it. Yes, some of our constitutional rights have been curtailed for fear that the COVID19 outbreak might become worse than it is. 

There are people all around the world where it is illegal to even be a Christian. But, the Church grows even, maybe especially, in these places. Families and small groups gather together to worship in homes; albeit, illegally. They are arrested when found out. They are sometimes tried. They are sometimes imprisoned. They are sometimes put to death.

In times like this, let us thank God for social media and for the opportunity that pastors have of staying in contact with their parishioners. Let us thank God that we can tape or live stream the word of God so that others might hear and believe; so that others might step out of the darkness into the glorious light of Jesus the Christ.

Let us pray for the day to come soon when we can all say: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen And Follow For Your Own Sake

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot —
my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.

Proverbs 1:8-19 NIV

                                             

It is so disheartening to hear the daily news.  It is as if all regard for not just others; but, for themselves as well, has been lost to this generation. I am not speaking of just our young people. Many elderly, as well, are arrested and convicted daily of crimes against others. It is not only strangers or neighbors that they hurt. But, they throw away their own lives and hurt their families as they commit crimes in attempts to fulfill their worldly desires. I am pretty sure that at least a majority of them think that they will never be caught; that they will not end up spending their lives locked down in a cell. The paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain takes away even the life of those who get it.               

There are riches worth having. They are more pleasant than any thing found in this world. Seek the Kingdom of God. It is a free gift from God to all who would believe.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for all who believe.  (Eph 1:18-19a)

God's Peace - Pr. J.                                                                                                                                         

Thieves Cannot Sneak Into The Kingdom Of God; There Is Only One Way In

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:9-10

There is a reason for walls. It is to keep one safe from many things that would harm us. Walls protect us from most storms; from beasts of prey; and from those who would steal from us or do us other injuries. We need walls; but, we also need gates or doors to enter in and depart when the time is appropriate. It would be very nice if we did not need them. If we could all live in peace with one another. But, that is not the reality. Thieves will find a way to go over the walls and through locked doors.

But, there is a door that is always open for anyone who desires to enter. For anyone who would knock the door will be opened. Jesus is that door. He is the gate to eternal life where there is peace and safety for all.

Even the thief can enter through this gate; if only he would. The problem is that the thief would prefer to enter in a way other than the way that he or she has been invited. However, those who would attempt to find another entry into the Kingdom, they will not be successful. There is only one way into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the way. He is the gate through which we must enter the Kingdom of God. He is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one enters except through him. Anyone who desires is welcome to enter into the Kingdom where there will be safety and peace for all.

Thank you Lord, for opening the gate to eternal life. Help us to enter and live life in your Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Knock And The Door Will Be Opened To You

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7

Castles and forts were once used to protect the people of a community. There were usually very large doors that were meant to keep danger out. One had to knock, introduce themselves, and possibly know a password in order to gain entrance during times of trouble.

After Adam and Eve's fall the doors to Paradise, the Kingdom of God, were closed. They were guarded by fierce looking angels so that no one could enter.  But, you and I don't have to sneak past them. We don't have to know any passwords to get into the Kingdom of God. Jesus revealed to us, by his death, that he wants all people to enter into his kingdom. God, our Father, wants you in His Kingdom. He will not force anyone to enter against their will. But, through Christ, God, has made it available to all people. He has opened the doors to the Kingdom for all who would be believe in him. You don't have to earn the right to enter. Jesus did that for you as he took upon himself the sins of the world.

Knock and you will find that the door is not locked. It will swing wide open for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.